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Marty

  • Consequence-Free Environments Don't Work

    Consequence-Free Environments Don’t Work

    Before we get into today’s Moment, I just want to give a trigger warning… I’m going to use an expression that some people may find confronting or disturbing.  I thought about this carefully, and decided to go ahead, because I believe it needs to be this graphic to get the point across with impact. So, […]

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  • Not Every Organization Wants Performance

    Not Every Organization Wants Performance

    The proverbial high performing team has become a leadership cliché. I can’t count the number of leaders who claim to have built a high performing team (often, despite objective evidence to the contrary). But what if the culture of the organization that you’re leading in is actually a low performance culture? How would you know, […]

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  • Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?

    Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?

    To build a really great team, you need to first get the best individuals on board. Then, you have to put them together in a way that delivers exceptional performance… if you say it fast enough it sounds easy! At some stage during your career, you’ll no doubt find yourself in the position where you […]

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  • Transformation Is More Than Just Cost Cutting

    Transformation Is More Than Just Cost Cutting

    Transformation can mean a lot of different things. Some leaders use it to describe any change they make in their organization that isn’t just BAU. This can be anything from a new IT system, to a cost cutting exercise, right through to a complete change in strategic direction. The word transformation implies a significant change… […]

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  • Don't Fall In Love With Family Culture

    Don’t Fall In Love With Family Culture

    Many business owners experience a common problem as their business grows. The attributes that made them successful initially – e.g. innovation, hard work, tenacity, sales skill – become obstacles to future growth…  Once the business reaches a certain scale, founders need completely new skills – leadership skills. This is no different to any transition in […]

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  • Leading In Organization-Induced Chaos

    Leading In Organization-Induced Chaos

    It is common in most larger organizations to restructure from time to time. These restructures are generally carried out for the right reasons, but are too often ill-conceived in terms of how much value they will generate, when weighed against the disruption, cost, and uncertainty that come as a by-product of the restructure. Most often, […]

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  • Are You a Transformational Leader?

    Are You a Transformational Leader?

    Most senior leaders find themselves in a position where they need to establish and execute a change or transformation program. It’s almost expected that when you take on a new role that you bring change… and we all like to stamp our mark on a new role. It’s easy to get caught up in the […]

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  • Does Your Education Determine Your Opportunities?

    Does Your Education Determine Your Opportunities?

    Your formal qualifications are your ticket to the dance. You can’t practice as a lawyer, a doctor, or an electrician unless you’ve been accredited by a reputable academic institution, as having successfully navigated a process learning and critical assessment. It tells potential employers two things: the first is that you’ve managed to achieve a basic […]

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  • Overcoming the Need to be Liked

    Overcoming the Need to be Liked

    Why is it so difficult to get over the need to be liked? Because it’s completely ingrained… it’s programmed into all of us. It’s part of our DNA and it’s controlled by our reptilian brain. It’s an instinctive response.  Back in the day, it was all about survival. If you were cast out of the […]

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  • From Individual Contributor to Leader

    From Individual Contributor to Leader

    A great documentary was made several years ago called Back and Forth, which chronicled the formation and rise to stardom of the rock band, the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl, the band’s founder, and the former drummer of legendary grunge band, Nirvana, had transitioned to front man. He was the Foo Fighters lead singer and guitarist. […]

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